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Past Tense of Buy

The past tense of "buy" is "bought." This form is used to describe the action of purchasing something that has already occurred.

Understanding the Simple Past Tense of "Buy"

The simple past tense indicates actions that occurred and were completed in the past. For the verb "buy," the past tense is "bought." Pronounce it as /bɔːt/.

Examples and Usage of "Bought"

Here are examples of "bought" in different contexts:

  • I bought a new car yesterday.

  • She bought groceries for the week.

  • They bought tickets to the concert.

  • He bought a gift for his friend.

  • We bought a house last year.

Compare "bought" with other past tense verbs:

  • buy -> bought

  • eat -> ate

  • go -> went

Common phrases and idiomatic expressions using "bought":

  • He bought the farm. (Meaning: He died.)

  • They bought it hook, line, and sinker. (Meaning: They believed it completely.)

Common Mistakes: "Bought" vs. "Brought"

It's easy to confuse "bought" with "brought." "Bought" is the past tense of "buy," while "brought" is the past tense of "bring."

  • Correct: I bought a new phone.

  • Incorrect: I brought a new phone.

Tips to avoid confusion:

  • "Bought" relates to purchasing something.

  • "Brought" relates to carrying or bringing something.

Practice exercises:

  • She ___ a new dress. (bought)

  • They ___ their dog to the park. (brought)

  • We ___ some fresh fruit at the market. (bought)

  • He ___ his sister to the party. (brought)

Conjugation and Other Forms of "Buy"

The verb "buy" in different tenses:

  • Present: buy

  • Past: bought

  • Future: will buy

Conjugation chart:

  • I buy - I bought

  • You buy - You bought

  • He/She/It buys - He/She/It bought

  • We buy - We bought

  • They buy - They bought

Related forms and derivatives:

  • Present participle: buying

  • Past participle: bought

  • Noun: buyer

Additional Rules and Examples

Using "bought" in negative sentences:

  • I didn't buy any clothes yesterday.

  • She hasn't bought her ticket yet.

Using "bought" in questions:

  • Did you buy the groceries?

  • Have they bought a new house?

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of "buy":

  1. Last week, I ___ a new laptop. (bought)

  2. Have you ___ anything for the party yet? (bought)

  3. They ___ their car two years ago. (bought)

  4. She ___ a beautiful painting at the auction. (bought)

  5. He ___ some flowers for his mother. (bought)

Rewrite the sentences, changing "buy" to its past tense form:

  1. Every Sunday, I buy fresh bread.

  2. She always buys her vegetables from the local market.

  3. We buy our Christmas tree from the same farm every year.

  4. They buy new furniture for their house.

  5. He buys a new book every month.

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